SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — The old pro and the young gun had big games for the Rockies Saturday night.

Todd Helton hit a two-run home run to center in the first inning off Freddie Garcia. It was Helton’s second homer of spring. Wilin Rosario made it back-to-back with a solo shot to left. It was the young catcher’s fourth homer and he continues to build off the 28 homers he swatted last season as a rookie.

“Wilin’s got big-time power,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s going to be able to hit the ball out of the park no matter where play and he’s going to be able to do it pretty consistently.”

GOODYEAR, ARIZ. — Lefty Jeff Francis pitched in this ballpark last spring wearing a Reds uniform. Caught up in the numbers game, he didn’t make the 25-man roster.

He eventually signed with the Rockies in June and went 6-5 with a 5.58 ERA.

This year, the Rockies are counting on Francis to be much better and provide consistent, quality innings. His spring training has certainly been a good springboard. Of the 19 innings Francis has pitched, 18 have been scoreless. His ERA is a sparkling 1.96.

He shut out the Reds for five innings Friday night, allowing four hits, striking out three and walking none. He induced two groundball outs to get double plays in the third and fifth.

A week ago, Helton woke up with a sore left knee after playing in night game against the Royals. Last November, he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in that same knee.

“It’s getting better,” he said. “I was worried for a day, but I feel good now.”

Friedrich update: Lefty Christian Friedrich,coming back from a sore lower back, will finally pitch in a game on Monday. The plan is for him to throw two innings, though he doesn’t know yet if it will be a big-league game or a minor-league game.

“Throwing to the mitt only gets you so far,” said Friedrich, who threw live batting practice Thursday. “It helps you find your command, but there’s nothing like throwing in a live game.”

Friedrich has been working on a changeup to compliment his two-seam fastball.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — For a day off, the Rockies sure had a productive day of work.

Playing in minor-league games against the Diamondbacks on the back lots at Salt River Fields Thursday afternoon, right-hander Juan Nicasio, catcher Wilin Rosario and first baseman Todd Helton all had big days.

Nicasio, trying to nail down a spot in the starting rotation, pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run against the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A squad. With his fastball humming and his changeup baffling the young D-Backs hitters, Nicasio struck out seven and walked one. He threw 75 pitches, 49 for strikes.

“My changeup was good today, it’s something I’ve been working on,” Nicasio said. “I was able to move my fastball all around — up and down, in and out. It was good.”

MESA, ARIZ. — Walt Weiss has made no secret about his desire to get former Rockies more involved with the franchise. He was instrumental in getting Eric Young Sr. to camp and management made Pedro Astacio’s return possible. Young will return for a second stint later this month, working with the base runners. Astacio also remain involved during the season, Weiss said.

“We expect to see him at home, and join us for some road games. I am all for it,” Weiss said.

Astacio helped Jorge De La Rosa prior to his best start of the spring last Friday. Working with pitching coach Jim Wright, Astacio translated, accelerating De La Rosa’s learning curve on some important mechanical adjustments. Juan Nicasio also praised Astacio’s impact.

Weiss had mentioned earlier in the spring that he wanted to get Larry Walker in camp. Walker recently served as Team Canada’s hitting instructor and first base coach in the World Baseball Classic. It doesn’t look Walker will work with the Rockies this spring, but there’s an open invitation as far as Weiss is concerned.

“How can you not benefit from having him here,” Weiss said.

Here’s the Rockies’ lineup: Todd Helton was scratched because of an illness.

SCOTTSDALE — Todd Helton’s right hip has responded fine to increased activity, but his left knee was sore after playing in Friday’s rain-shortened night game against the Royals.

Helton plated runs in his two at-bats with a groundball to shortstop and a high flyball to center field off Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie. Helton made his debut last Sunday and has played three games. The veteran first baseman underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in November. The tear was a common injury to the cartilage that stabilizes and cushions the knee joint. Helton, 39, resumed working out soon after surgery, but the knee bears watching as Helton plays more this spring.

Francis, the Rockies’ most consistent starter this spring, pitched four innings of one-hit ball and struck out four. Francis throws his fastball in the mid-80s these days, but he can still be masterful when his curve is working. That was the case Tuesday as he kept the Cubs off-balance. Francis has not been scored upon in nine Cactus League innings.

“I was able to throw my curveball early in the count for strikes,” Francis said. “Then I was able to slow it down later and got them to hit it off the end of the bat a little bit.”

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — He’s had his right hip repaired. He’s contemplated retirement, then decided against it. He’s apologized for his DUI arrest last month, calling it a “monumental mistake.”

Now, finally, Todd Helton gets to play a baseball game again.

The Rockies’ 39-year-old first baseman makes his Cactus League debut Sunday afternoon against the Oakland A’s. He’s batting third and will likely play a few innings, enabling him to get a couple of at-bats.

Helton has impressed his teammates with his work ethic and has looked good in batting practice.

PHOENIX — It was not the good-bye that Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin was hoping for against the A’s Saturday afternoon.

Chacin, the Rockies’ No. 1 starter, who’s joining Venezuela’s WBC team on Sunday — gave up three runs in 2 1/3 innings. He also walked two and hit a batter.

“I lost my focus a little bit,” Chacin said. “That’s what happens when you get behind in counts. You have to throw something in the middle. That’s what happened.”

Chacin’s bruised left big toe clearly bothered him when he fielded a dribbler down the third-base line in the second. He promptly walked former Rockie Seth Smith and hit Hiroyuki Nakajima. Chacin escaped that jam, but couldn’t wriggle out of trouble in the third. He gave up an infield hit to Coco Crisp, walked Jed Lowrie and then watched Josh Reddick hit a towering three-run homer to center on a sinker that stayed up in the zone.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Despite a bruised left big toe, right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will start Saturday afternoon’s Cactus League game at the Oakland A’s. However, center fielder Dexter Fowler will miss his second straight game because of a sore right ankle.

“No use rushing back, I want to make sure it’s strong for the season,” Fowler said, noting that he rolled his ankle three times during the 2012 regular season.

Though the ankle is taped, Fowler insists the injury is not a big deal.

How are things progressing for the Rockies under new manager Walt Weiss at Spring Training? Can Troy Tulowitzki regain his All-Star form? Does Todd Helton have anything left in the tank? How’s the pitching staff?

Troy Renck in Scottsdale and Patrick Saunders in Denver answer your questions about the comings and goings in the still-budding season for the Rockies.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Given the length of spring training and his offseason surgery, Todd Helton will ease into the Cactus League. Manager Walt Weiss has definitely adopted a player’s view of spring.

He trusts veterans to tell him what they need to prepare. That’s how Weiss was later in his career. So look for Helton and Betancourt to gradually increase their workload, but not overdo it the first few weeks.

The Rockies left last season with a trail of ugly losses, ice packs and ace bandages. While counting on the return of healthy starter pitchers seems a risky proposition, the Rockies clearly have a glut of outfielders.

If Todd Helton comes back and Eric Young Jr. re-emerges as a factor, Colorado will have several outfield options, starting with Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, who remains a trade candidate, Cuddyer, Tyler Colvin and potentially Charlie Blackmon.

As a result, Andrew Brown, an accomplished Triple-A slugger, was removed from the 40-man roster in November. He elected to become free agent and Wednesday signed a minor-league deal with the Mets, according to the team.

Brown, 28, batted .232 with five home runs for the Rockies last season. Of his 26 hits, 12 went for extra bases. He hit his first major league home run on Aug. 25. Brown split his time between right and left field. He was recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 19 and spent the remainder of the year in the big leagues. Brown hit .308 with 33 doubles, 24 home runs and 98 RBIs in 100 games for the Sky Sox.

Colorado Rockies gray team manager Jason Giambi watches the action during a spring training intra squad game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday, March 2, 2012. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Jason Giambi got me thinking. He’s a legitimate candidate to become the next manager of the Rockies. This isn’t opinion. It’s based on the fact that he has interviewed for the job with assistant GM Bill Geivett and is likely to meet with owner Dick Monfort and GM Dan O’Dowd this week.

That means the next few days could be telling. Major League Baseball frowns on teams making news or announcements during the World Series. The Fall Classic begins Wednesday. So if the Rockies aren’t going outside to interview candidates, a decision could come this week. At the very least, Mark Wiley’s hiring could become official, joining the organization as the director of pitching operations.

Giambi has prepared himself for this role for three-plus years. Would he be a good manager? I have no idea. I do know that this structure is such that it might be the easiest way to break in — the Rockies have marginalized the role so the manager is responsible for in-game strategy and meeting the media. That’s why Jim Tracy left. He felt like after a decade of managing, he was asked to be a robot. He didn’t want that, and he also wasn’t happy that coaches were axed.

Anyway, Giambi is hardly the only player I have covered that I thought would make a good field boss. In no particular order, a quick list:

SAN FRANCISCO — Wilin Rosario didn’t set a goal for home runs. They just coming, leading to a catchy nickname. In a lost season, the Baby Bull has made an indelible mark
offensively even as he tries to erase doubt about his future as a full-time catcher.

Todd Helton underwent successful surgery on his left hip labrum Friday. Obviously, no doctor is going to announce that the surgery didn’t go well. But the surgery did not feature any surprises.

Helton, who will 39 on Aug. 20, elected to have the season-ending procedure done this week to give him ample time to prepare for spring training. He has one year remaining on his contract at $5 million. His plan is to return, but it depends, in part, on his recovery and where he fits going forward.

Helton’s hip began bothering him in late May and early June, compromising his power. With Helton out, the Rockies have played several players at first base, including Matt McBride, Michael Cuddyer and Tyler Colvin. Cuddyer, out with an oblique injury, is progressing and could begin a rehab assignment early next week.

As The Denver Post reported Saturday, right-hander Tyler Chatwood was called up from Double-A Tulsa and starts Sunday afternoon against the Giants. To make room on the roster, the club informed struggling left-hander Jonathan Sanchez that he has left biceps tendinitis and they were putting him on the 15-day disabled list.

Sanchez is 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA in three starts since coming to the Rockies in the trade that sent Jeremy Guthrie to the Royals. Sanchez spent 35 days on the DL earlier this season with Kansas City, also with left biceps tendinitis.

Infielder Chris Nelson, on the DL after suffering an irregular heartbeat, has completed his rehab stint at Triple-A. Nelson will travel with the Rockies to Los Angeles and likely will be activated Monday. At that point, the Rockies will have to make a corresponding roster move.

As for Sunday’s game, Todd Helton is batting third, his spot in the order during his glory years. Helton’s hitting just .237, so why third? Because he has a solid history against Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum — .351 average in 37 at-bats. Helton also has drawn eight walks off Lincecum.

Manager Jim Tracy figures Helton can get on base, setting the table for Carlos Gonzalez at cleanup.

“If Timmy doesn’t throw the ball over the plate, Todd’s not going to swing,” Tracy said.

Todd Helton’s right hip, a problem for nearly a month, is showing improvement. He said after Saturday’s game that his swing felt like it was “on time.”

“I felt good. No issues,” said Helton, who came off the disabled list on Friday. “I felt good at the plate too and it’s been awhile.”

Helton went 1-for-2 and is hitting .238. The Rockies lost despite scoring seven runs with 12 hits. The starting rotation remains a problem as Christian Friedrich lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs. His ERA sits at 6.17 and 8.11 this month.

“We don’t look at it like that (that should have won with seven runs),” Helton said. “You lose as a team and win as a team.”

Asked if it was time to give Friedrich a break from the rotation, possibly switching him to the piggyback role, manager Jim Tracy said, “If you look at Christian’s resume over the last couple of years or so. … This is about the area when he’s been forced to be shut down. Physically, I think we are OK, so this is the type of situation where we have to try and get him over this hurdle.”

Friedrich is 1-7 over his lasts nine starts.

Footnotes
–Carlos Gonzalez delivered his 37th multi-hit game. He has a 27-game hitting streak at home.
–Michael Cuddyer hit his third home run in four games. He has 15 for the season, leaving him on pace for 25.
–Helton admitted that the Chapman’s 100-mph fastball did not hit him in the ninth inning. But once the umpire told him to take his base, “I wasn’t going to argue.”
–Josh Rutledge, hitting second for the first time in his big league career, had three hits. He’s reached base safely in 12 of 14 games.
–The Reds are 16-2 over their last 18 games. The Reds have won eight straight road games.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.